Editor’s Note: This article has been corrected. An earlier version of this story stated that Madison will cut 37.5 teaching positions, rather than overall staff positions.
MADISON TOWNSHIP — Madison Local Schools’ latest round of staff cuts will reduce the district’s full-time staff by 37.5 positions, according to Supt. Rob Peterson.
Peterson shared that figure at a board meeting Wednesday night.
After retirements, resignations and the automatic non-renewal of long term substitute contracts, he said he hopes the total number of people who lose their jobs is closer to 20.
“I know that’s still a large number and I don’t want to make light of it, but we will be able to have some people find positions,” he said.
During a reduction in force, staff members whose positions are being eliminated may have the opportunity to “bump” less experienced teachers in similar positions. “Bumped” teachers may be able to take a different position within the district, based on their level of seniority and grade levels or subjects they are licensed to teach.
Peterson said the cuts will have a minimal impact on class sizes at the elementary level.
“We were able to, even with those cuts, keep our classroom sizes down to no more than 23 (students) and even less than that for our kindergarten,” he said.
Peterson said the reduction-in-force process for teachers began Wednesday. The RIF for non-teaching positions is set to begin Monday.
The superintendent declined to say how many non-teaching positions are being eliminated, and the staff who will be affected have yet to be notified.
The teacher and support staff cuts are part of a larger deficit reduction plan Madison is implementing, which also includes enacting pay-to-participate fees, reducing purchased service contracts, closing Mifflin Elementary School and selling the former junior high property.
Peterson said he hopes the RIF process will be finished by mid-February, at which point all district employees will know if they have a job for the next school year.
The superintendent told board members the savings from those cuts are now projected to be around $3.2 million annually.
“Our target was $2.8 million so that we had at least a positive cash balance (at the end of next school year),” Peterson said.
Board changes levy language after state updates wage estimates
The board also voted on a new resolution to put a levy on the ballot in May.
Last month, the board approved a $6.27 million levy resolution, as well as a resolution to stop collecting a 7.5 mill property tax if that levy passes.
The board voted on updated versions of those resolutions Wednesday. The new levy resolution stated that Madison will place a $6.59 million levy on the ballot in the spring.
Treasurer Bradd Stevens said both resolutions were written with the intent to put a 1.5 percent earned income tax levy before voters. The collection amount changed because the Ohio Department of Taxation updated its wage estimates for the area in late December — so the amount that would be generated by a 1.5-percent earned income tax levy increase.
The board approved the resolution, as well as one declaring its intent to stop collecting a 7.5 mill property tax if voters approve the 1.5-percent income tax.
Old junior high property will be auctioned off Feb 23
The board also voted on a resolution authorizing an auction for the sale of the old junior high property.
The sale will include two parcels totaling 12.85 acres of land.
The auction will be held onsite at 690 Ashland Road with parking off of Madison Road, across from Buttons Auto Repair. The board will meet to consider bids on Feb. 24.
In other business, the board recognized teachers whose students showed significant evidence of making more growth than expected on the Ohio State Tests during the 2024-2025 school year.
- Kimberly Boehm, American Government
- Matthew Wade, American Government
- Kristen Agee, 6th grade English Language Arts
- Wendy Caperton, 5th grade science
- Judy Richardson, 7th grade math
- Christa Shutt, 8th grade math
- Goldie Spencer, 5th grade science
- Troy Stimpert, 5th grade math
- Megan Studer, 5th grade English Language Arts
- Zinda Thomas, 8th grade science
- Christine Vermillion, 5th grade science
- Sarah Weiser, 8th grade math
- Dane Henry, 4th grade math (Mifflin Elementary)
- Valerie Barnhart, 4th grade math (Madison South)
- Melissa Vetter, 4th grade math (Madison South)
Other board actions included:
- Approving a requisition of $148,040 to Standard Plumbing and Heating for the replacement of two boilers at Madison Middle School.
- Swearing in newly-elected board member Adam Porter and re-elected board members Amy Walker and Mary Kotterman.
- Electing Amy Walker as board president and Melissa Walker as vice president.
- Reaffirming the third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. as the date and time of regular meetings for 2025.
- Appointing board members to committees. The finance committee includes Mary Kotterman and Adam Porter. The board policy committee includes Mary Kotterman and Amy Walker. The legislative committee includes Doug Mosier and Amy Walker. The student achievement committee includes Adam Porter and Melissa Walker. The athletic board of control committee includes Doug Mosier and Melissa Walker.
